Preparations are in full swing for the public presentation of a new book titled The Imperative of State Police in Nigeria, authored by former Delta State Information Commissioner, Magnus Onyibe. The book arrives at a crucial juncture in Nigeria's history, as killings, kidnappings, banditry, and other violent crimes continue to surge across the nation.
Rising Insecurity Across Nigeria
What was once concentrated in the North-East and parts of the North-Central region has now spread extensively into South-West states like Ondo, Ekiti, and Oyo, with dimensions never before witnessed. There are growing fears that the menace could extend further into Ogun and Lagos states if decisive and far-reaching security measures are not urgently implemented to curb the activities of rampaging criminal elements.
The urgency of the national security situation has been underscored by recent abductions of school children in the Ogbomosho area of Oyo and Uba Askira in Borno state. This prompted remarks from the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who disclosed that the Presidency and the National Assembly are set to fast-track constitutional templates for establishing state police structures in Nigeria, intensifying the national discourse on restructuring the country's policing architecture.
Content and Significance of the Book
The book comprises 19 thought-provoking articles written and published by the author in mass media from as far back as 2002 to the present. It chronicles the evolution of insecurity in Nigeria and presents compelling arguments for the establishment of state and local policing systems as a strategic response to the nation's worsening security challenges.
Widely regarded as one of Nigeria's most accomplished media columnists and respected thought leaders, Onyibe has assembled in this authoritative volume critical insights, historical perspectives, and policy recommendations. These are intended to guide lawmakers and policymakers in amending the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to accommodate state and local policing structures.
Foreword and Afterword
The foreword to the book is written by distinguished professor of strategy and public policy, Prof. Anthony Kila, while the afterword is authored by former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Alapini (rtd), a seasoned policing expert with extensive hands-on experience in law enforcement and internal security administration in Nigeria.
